Adjustable spring tension pipesupporting means



Sept. 5, 1939. H. GILLICK ET AL 2,171,739

ADJUSTABLE SPRING TENSION PIPE SUPPORTING MEANS Filed June 23, 1938 2 Sheets-sheaf l 1TH en'IFrS 0/272 @4212 y/z zim Litmus Sept. 5, 1939. L. H. GILLICK ET AL ADJUSTABLE SPRING TENSION PIPE SUPPORTING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Imfe T1132 5 6271M awe/reg 1y 7? %I2 26 [1| Illlll llllll'llllU Filed June 23, 1938 Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Lawrence H. Gillick, Evanston, and John Van Vulpen, Chicago, Ill.,

assignors to Vapor Car Heating Company, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application June 23, 1938, Serial No. 215,424

8 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in Adjustable spring tension pipe-supporting means, more particularly to an improved pipe-holding bracket assembly adapted to support one or more substantially parallel lengths of radiating piping so that the pipe or pipes are yieldingly clamped in position and are individually adjustable vertically, together with means to individually reinforce and protect each of the pipes supported by the bracket means.

While this improved supporting means might be used for various purposes, it is particularly designed for supporting the radiating piping of a steam heating system such as used, for example, on a railway car. Briefly described, the invention comprises a vertically disposed main supporting plate that is secured to some convenient and suitable portion of the car framework. Individual brackets for securing the pipes are adjustably clamped to this main plate so that each bracket may be adjusted vertically to properly position the pipe held thereby. Each of these brackets is of an upwardly open substantially U- shaped construction adapted to engage and support the lower and front and rear surfaces of the pipe, and a removable spring member is provided which connects the upwardlyextending legs of the bracket to clamp against the upper surface of the pipe and hold the pipe securely but yieldably in position. In some modern heating systems of this type the pipes are formed of thin copper tubing provided with a plurality of spaced apart fins to give additional radiating surface. Since such piping is not heavy and might be crushed if the clamping device is applied directly thereto, the invention contemplates the use of rigid reinforcing sleeves, or short pipe sections, mounted about the thin copper tubing so as to be directly engaged by the clamping means.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved pipe-supporting means such as briefly described hereinabove and disclosed more in detail in the specification which follows.

Another object is to provide an improved pipesupporting bracket provided with a readily attachable and removable spring for holding the pipe securely but yieldably in position.

Another object is to provide improved means for supporting the bracket or brackets so that they may be adjusted vertically.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of one approved form of construction assembled and operating according to the principle of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top or plan View of one of the sup-- porting assemblies with a section of pipe mounted therein.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the assembly shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the supporting brackets.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the spring plates.

Fig. 6 is an elevation showing a modification adapted to support a plurality of pipes, two of these pipes and supporting brackets being indicated in dotted lines.

The single-pipe supporting assembly shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive will first be described, this assembly comprising, in general, the main supporting plate A, the adjustable supporting bracket B, the securing bolt C, the reinforcingsleeve D, and the clamping spring E. g

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is shown a section of radiating pipe I provided with a plurality of spaced apart outwardly extending fins 2 so as to provide an extended radiating surface. If this pipe I is made of thin metal tubing, such as cooper, it might easily be crushed by the clamping'or supporting means, and for this reason it is reinforced at the supported area by an enclosing sleeve or short pipe section D of rigid construction and made of a heavier and thicker metal. This sleeve D is in the form of a short pipe section adapted to fit rather snugly about the main pipe I, and preferably provided with outstanding collars 3 at its respective ends to reinforce and strengthen the sleeve and also to engage the sides of the bracket B (hereinafter described) so as to prevent endwise displacement of the sleeve. This sleeve D may be of solid or one-piece construction if it can be conveniently slipped over the end of the enclosed pipe I but otherwise it will be splitinto two half sections as indicated at 4 so that it may be fitted about the inner pipe I between two groups of the fins 2. The two half sections of the sleeve may be provided with any suitable interengaging projections and recesses to preventrelative endwise displacement, for example as shown in the copending application of Van Vulpen, Serial No. 199,078, filed March 31, 1938.

If reinforcing sleeves such as D are used, it will be understood that the supporting bracket B and retaining spring E are engaged about this sleeve D, as hereinafter described. If the supported pipe I is of sufiicient strength so that reinforcing sleeves are not required, the pipe I itself may be engaged directly by bracket B and spring E, it being understood that the bracket and pipe should be of proper dimensions to snugly receive one another.

The main supporting member A may be of channel form and bent or stamped out of sheet material. It comprises a front plate 5, rearward- 1y extending side walls 5 and I, and upper and lower outwardly extending ears 8 and 9 which are perforated at it to receive screws or bolts by means of which the member A is anchored to a portion of the car framework, or other suitable supporting beams. Preferably another pair of laterally extending ears ll extend horizontally from the upper ends of side walls 6 and 1, these ears being perforated at I2 so that they may be attached to an overhanging portion of the car frame. Obviously, similar ears could be provided if desired at the lower end of plate A.

The plate 5 is formed centrally with a vertically extending slot l3 of a width sufiicient to loosely receive the shank 14 of bolt C, but not wide enough to permit the passage of the enlarged head i5 at the rear end of bolt C. An enlarged opening i6 is provided in some portion of slot l3 (preferably at the upper end thereof) to permit the passage therethrough of head [5 of the bolt, it being apparent that when the bolt is subsequently slipped downward to some position such as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 it cannot be withdrawn forwardly through the slot and the bolt head [5 will engage the rear face of plate 5. Preferably a rearwardly bowed reinforcing plate I! is welded at its side edges to the rear face of plate 5 at the respective sides of slot I3. This plate l'l serves to reinforce the slotted portion of plate 5 and at the same time provides a vertical channel in which bolt head I5 is slidable.

The supporting bracket B is preferably built up of flat-metal sections suitably welded together. One of these sections comprises a rear wall l8, a bottom wall 19, and a front wall 20 which is curved upwardly and outwardly at its upper end as indicated at 2 l. The other section comprises a bottom wall or web 22 which is spaced upwardly from bottom wall 19 of the first member and terminates at its rear in an upwardly extending flange 23 which is welded against the inner face of rear wall l8 of the first member. The second section also comprises an upwardly and forwardly curved portion 24 which rests upon and is welded to the portion 2| of the first member, and an upwardly extending front leg 25. The rear wall l8 of the first section extends upwardly to form a rear leg 26 that is substantially parallel with the upper portion of front leg 25 and of substantially the same height. A rearwardly extending lug or projection 21 is formed on or struck from the upper central portion of rear leg 26, and projects slidably within slot [3 in supporting plate A. A pair of aligned holes 28 and 29 are formed respectively in the rear and front walls [8 and 2B of the lower portion of bracket B to receive the shank M of bolt C. A nut 36 threaded on the forward end of bolt C serves to clamp lockwasher 3| against the front Wall 20 of the bracket, and at the same time clamp the rear Wall l8 of the bracket against the front wall of plate 5, and the head l5 of the bolt against the rear wall of plate 5 thereby securing bracket B in any selected position vertically of the supporting plate A. The lug 21 which projects slidably into slot l3 prevents lateral tilting of the bracket B in any selected position.

It will be noted that the upper portion of bracket B is of an upwardly open substantially U-shaped form comprising the front and rear legs 25 and 26 which engage respectively the front and rear sides of the pipe or sleeve, and the bottom pipe-supporting web 22. The side portions of the upper end of rear leg 26 are curved inwardly and downwardly to form a pair of similar hooks 32 and 33, the central portion of the rear leg between these hooks being extended upwardly as indicated at 34 and formed with a tool-receiving opening or recess 35, the function of which will be hereinafter described. The upper end portion of front leg 25 is formed with a transversely extending horizontal slot 36.

The leaf-retaining spring E (see Fig. 5) is of rectangular form and substantially flat, although it may be slightly bowed upwardly in its central portion as indicated at 31 to engage the upper surface of the pipe or sleeve. The forward end 38 of this spring fits slidably within slot 36 in the front leg of the bracket. The rear end of spring E is preferably bent or hooked upwardly as indicated at 39, or otherwise formed with some similar upwardly extending projecting portion to engage under the hooks 32 and 33 of the rear leg 26.

After the pipe (or pipe and reinforcing sleeve D) are resting in place within the bracket, as indicated in Fig 3, retaining spring E is positioned by first inserting the front end 38 of the spring through slot 36 from the rear and sliding the spring forwardly. The end of a screw-driver or 0 similar tool is then inserted in recess 35 in rear leg 26 and by prying downwardly the rear end 39 of spring E is sprung below the level of hooks 32 and 33. The spring is then driven rearwardiy by blows applied against the forward edge of the spring until the hooked rear end 39 of the spring is beneath the hooks 32 and 33. The tool is then removed and the spring will swing upwardly so that the hooks are engaged, but the central portion of the spring will still be flexed upwardly so as to hold the pipe or sleeve yieldably but firmly in position. The spring E may be removed or pried out of position in a similar manner by inserting the end of a suitable tool in the recess 35.

If, as is usually the case, a plurality of radiating pipes I are to be supported one above another in spaced apart relation, this may be accomplished by using a plurality of separate supporting assemblies of the form just described for each pipe, preferably staggering these supporting members at different positions longitudinally of the superposed pipes. However, it is preferable to use a multiple pipe-supporting assembly of the type indicated in Fig. 6. The main supporting plate member A is of the type first described except that it is of considerably greater length, and preferably bolt-head receiving openings l6 are provided at intervals throughout the length of vertical slot l3. In this way a plurality of the pipe-supporting brackets B may be supported at different positions along the height of supporting plate A, two of these assemblies being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. It will be understood that each of these brackets is independently adjustable and independently removable in the manner already described. By providing a plurality of enlargements IS in slot [3 it is possible to remove one of the lower brackets B without disturbing the upper bracket or brackets.

This type of pipe-supporting assembly not only permits the pipe or pipes to be mounted at selected positions vertically with respect to the car wall or floor, but also permits the spacing between superposed pipes to be varied at different locations throughout the lengths of the pipes so that the respective pipes can be sloped for drainage purposes. It will be seen that a single universal type of supporting device may be used for any position throughout the length of the pipes or pipe-loops.

It will be noted that each pipe (or pipe reinforcing sleeve D) is not positively or unyieldingly clamped in position, but the spring E will givesufficiently to allow for a slight variation in the size of the pipes, as well as a slight variation in the inclination of the pipe with respect to the horizontal. A pipe can be easily removed without disturbing the bracket by simply removing the retaining spring E. Also the bracket B is easily removable by simply unscrewing the nut 3i! and then withdrawing the bracket. Similarly the holding bolt C may be removed by simply lifting it until head It may be withdrawn through one of the openings Hi.

It will be apparent that the dimensions of the indiiddual brackets B could be varied to accommodate different diameters of pipes, and that all of such bracket assemblies could be mounted on the same standard type of supporting plate A.

It is to be understood that in the claims which follow the term pipe refers to either the radiating pipe itself or to the sleeve or reinforcing pipe-section D in case such reinforcing member is used. As a rule the reinforcing sleeves will be used, and this is the pipe member that is directly mounted in the bracket.

It may be noted, as best shown in Fig. 3, that the bracket assembly consisting of parts B, C, D and E is so compact and of such limited dimensions that it comes well within the space required for the radiating fins 2, so that there are no projecting parts to interfere with the use of a continuous pipe shield or other enclosure in the event that such were used.

We claim:

1. In a supporting means for radiating pipes, a pipe-receiving member in the form of an upwardlly open substantially U-shaped bracket comprising front and rear upwardly projecting legs connected by a lower pipe-supporting web, and a spring member adapted to be removably engaged adjacent its respective ends with the upwardly projecting portions of the legs and clamped yieldingly against the upper side of the pipe.

2. In a supporting means for radiating pipes, a pipe-receiving member in the form of an upwardly open substantially U-shaped bracket comprisin front and rear upwardly projecting legs connected by a lower web, and a flat spring member slidable through an opening in the upper portion of the front leg and removably engageable at its rear end with an upper portion of the rear leg so that the spring will be flexed into clamping engagement with the upper side of the pipe.

3. In a supporting means for radiating pipes, a pipe-receiving member in the form of an upwardly open substantially U-shaped bracket comprising front and rear upwardly projecting legs connected by a lower web, the upper portion of the front leg having a substantially horizontally extending slot therethrough, and the upper end of the rear leg being formed with an inwardly and downwardly extending transverse hook, and a substantially flat spring having an upwardly hooked rear end, said spring being slidably engaged through the front slot and snapped into engagement with the hooked portion of the rear leg while flexed into clamping engagement with the upper side of the pipe.

4. In a supporting means for radiating pipes, a pipereceiving member in the form of an upwardly open substantially U-shaped bracket comprising front and rear upwardly projecting legs connected by a lower web, the upper portion of the front leg having a substantially horizontally extending slot therethrough, and the upper end of the rear leg being formed with a pair of spaced apart inwardly and downwardly extending transverse hooks and a tool-receiving recess between said hooks, and a substantially flat spring having an upwardlly hooked rear end, said spring being slidable through the front slot so that when the hooked rear end of the spring is depressed by a tool engaged in the recess of the rear leg the spring may be driven rearwardly until the hooked portions of the spring and rear leg engage with the spring flexed into clamping engagement with the upper side of the pipe.

5. In a supporting means for radiating pipes, a bracket member having a lower portion to receive a supporting bolt, an intermediate web portion to support a pipe and front and rear spaced apart legs projecting upwardly from the extremities of the web and engaging the sides of the pipe, and a spring member adapted to be removably engaged with the legs and clamped yieldingly against the upper side of the pipe.

6. In a supporting means for radiating pipes, a bracket member having a lower portion to receive a supporting bolt, an intermediate web portion to support a pipe and front and rear spaced apart legs projecting upwardly from the extremities of the web and engaging the sides of the pipe, the upper portion of the front leg having a substantially horizontally extending slot therethrough, and the upper end of the rear leg being formed with an inwardly and downwardly extending transverse hook, and a substantially flat spring having an upwardly hooked rear end, said spring being slidably engaged through the front slot and snapped into engagement with the hooked portion of the rear leg while flexed into clamping engagement with the upper side of the pipe.

'7. A supporting means for radiating pipes comprising a main upright supporting plate having extensions by means of which said plate is anchored to a supporting member in forwardly spaced relation thereto, a bracket-supporting and adjusting bolt, said plate having a substantially vertically extending slot therein to slidably receive the shank of the bolt, there being an enlarged opening in one portion of the slot to permit the head of the bolt to be inserted therethrough, a pipe-supporting bracket having a lower portion through which the bolt extends forwardly, a nut on the forward end of the bolt for drawing the bracket against the front face of the plate and the head of the bolt against the rear face of the plate to hold the bracket in selected position vertically of the plate, the bracket having an intermediate pipe-supporting portion and front and rear legs extending upwardly at the front and rear sides of the pipe, the rear leg being clamped against the plate and having a projection slidably engaged in the slot to prevent lateral tilting of the bracket.

8. A supporting means for radiating pipes comprising a main upright supporting plate having extensions by means of which said plate is anchored to a supporting member in forwardly spaced relation thereto, a bracket-supporting and adjusting bolt, said plate having a substantially vertically extending slot therein to slidably receive the shank of the bolt, there being an enlarged opening in one portion of the slot to permit the head of the bolt to be inserted therethrough, a pipe-supporting bracket having a lower portion through which the bolt extends forwardly, a nut on the forward end of the bolt for drawing the bracket against the. front face of the plate and the head of the bolt against the rear face of the plate to hold the bracket in LAWRENCE H. GILLICK. JOHN VAN VULPEN. 

